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Off Topic: I just found out that one of my cats might have Abdominal Cancer

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Posted 7/1/2009 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Please forgive me if I shouldn't post this here as it is off topic.

Today I found out that one of my beloved cats might have abdominal Cancer cry shakehead
He has been losing a lot of weight lately and even though he has been eating it just kept dropping. I have an appointment to have an ultrasound done on him tomorrow to see what if anything can be done for him. Needless to say both myself and my wife are heartbroken and grief stricken over this. I know some people may find it odd to cry for a cat but not us. They are essentially our children as we never had any. So I'm hoping if it's not too much to ask if everyone could say a prayer it sure would mean a lot :-)

Glenn
Posted 7/1/2009 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Glenn,
I sure do understand how our animals become our children! I hope it's something that can be cured, but if the worst is true, then I wish you and your wife the courage of what you may have to face.

Not odd to cry over a cat to me. Or any animal for that matter. And you'll find that true for a lot of people here!

Hugs,

PaLady
Posted 7/1/2009 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Glenn,

I'm so sorry to hear about the news. My animals mean everything to me & I would be/have been devastated anytime anything happened to them!! Our animals provide us with such unconditional love and comfort. I'd truly be lost without my guys. They are one of my biggest sources of support & pain relief. As it is, I only get to see them just over 2-3 days a week & that is hard for me. Our family has two cats & 3 dogs, one of which is mine, & each one is spoiled beyond belief! They are like children to us as well.

I hope that the ultrasound goes well & that your beloved friend will at least have a few more months with you! I will say a prayer for you & your kitty!

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 7/1/2009 11:59 PM (GMT 0)

Glenn,

I am so sorry about the news on your cat. I so understand, its looking more and more like that may be what is going on with 12 yr old golden retriever, Yes, its just sickening when something like this happens to one of our little 4 legged buddies. Jake is feeling somewhat betetr but the cough is starting to come back. He is eating very well, canned food-which is new to him. I also give him crushed ice water which he loves.

Glenn please keep us posted on how your kitty is coming along.

Posted 7/2/2009 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Glenn,
It's never consider odd to cry for a beloved pet as your cat is to you, so cry away
and I'll be here with many many prayers for ya...I know the loss of a cat and my cat was
more of a family memeberr than an actual family member and cats don't
go judging us, they are unconditional love...
You have my prayers and well wishes,,
Lots and lots of soft hugz and keep us posted when you can...
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Glenn))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 7/2/2009 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry to hear of your poor sick cat, I'll send lots of positive healing thoughts out there for Him/her? Whats the cat's name? Golitho
Posted 7/2/2009 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Glenn, I really am sorry to hear about your cat. Animals do become family members. It is so hard to have one for so long and then to learn that they becomme sick... Yes, I will pary for your beloved cat. Please keep us posted on what you find out after the ultrasound. Hang in there... I know that it is hard. We are here to give you support.
anice
Posted 7/2/2009 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry , prayers being sent.
Posted 7/2/2009 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Glenn,

I too had a beloved cat named Oreo, who last year dveloped, intestianl cancer, he was eight years old. It was about two months after he was diagnosed that he became so ill that we had to have him put to sleep, it was one of the hardest things I have done, he was a great cat and an even better friend. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope its not bad news, and if it is bad hold on too each other because the loss of a beloved pet can be almost as bad as losing a loved one. Please let us know how it goes. Take care.
Posted 7/2/2009 2:10 AM (GMT 0)

Glenn, you have my vote that this is not off topic. Our families are an essentail part of our lives and that includes our pets.

I might have shared this story before but I will share it again. I was working at a hospital as a chaplain and I spent many hours sitting and listening to patients who were dealing with difficult issues. There was an elderly man who was diganosed with terminal cancer and had no family and lived by himself. They knew that his death was near and I tried to spend time with him as he had very few visitors. One day I asked him if he could have one thing what would it be. He stated that he had a dog and that was his only family. It was against hospital policy to allow animals in back then. I arranged for someone to go get his dog. I advised the nurses that I was going to be spending an extended time with the man and that I was not to be disturbed. I am sure they knew what I was doing. I had the dog handed in through the window. After several hours the man grew very weak. I handed the dog back out the window and then went and asked a nurse to join me. By the time we returned to the room, the man was taking his final breaths. We stayed there with him and he was so peaceful.

The feeling that you and your wife have for your furry companion are no less important that if it was a son or daughter or other family member. I am sure that you will do all you can to help him and he is very lucky to have family like you to care and comfort him. Indeed you will be in my prayers.

Posted 7/3/2009 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,

What an awfully long day both myself and the wife are exhausted.

Drove a few hours to the specialty veterinary clinic and met with the doctor.

After several hours of testing it is apparently cancer.

A gastric Lymphoma to be exact and it can not be removed because it is located in the stomach sad

The good news is that cats to respond well to treatment but it is hard to say who will and who won't.

I'm hoping that our cat will respond well to Tx ( I just gave him his first pill) only time will tell.

Post Edited (quahog) : 7/2/2009 9:42:59 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/3/2009 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
Glenn, It is good to hear that there is hope. I can imagine that you and your wife feel a little better.
Posted 7/3/2009 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
Glenn,
I know that when my 19 year old cat suddenly became bedridden, and they thought there was a tumor on his spine, I gave me twice daily doses of steroids and in less than a month he was back up walking again and I had him for several more months. That may not have meant much to some people, but it meant a lot to me. I don't think either my cat nor I were ready to say good-bye, and we had some sweet times. So I do hope those meds. work.

Hugs,

PaLady
Posted 7/3/2009 10:29 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you have hope and will says a prayer that you have
the right meds for your kitty...
Prayers and hugz....
((((((((((((((((((((((((((Glenn))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 7/4/2009 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Glenn,

I'm sorry to hear that your cat in fact does have cancer, but am glad to hear that it is one of the more treatable forms. As Palady said, remarkable things can happen. These guys fight like nothing else & can defy the odds. I saw my horse through five years of severe respiratory problems after the vet told us that he didn't have much of a chance. But the two of us fought it with everything we had & he never ceased to amaze me. In fact, during those five years, only a handful of times was he in such a bad state that we didn't think that he'd make it through the night & every single time the attacks came, was when I was away: on vacation, away at school, or disabled from surgery. And I was so connected to him that I knew every time he was really sick before I even got the phone call, even if I was thousands of miles away! In fact, when he died just over a year & a half ago, it was not his lungs that killed him, but rather something entirely new (yet largely treatable). Personally, I know that he could have fought that as well, and had months, if not years longer, but I didn't have a say in the matter that time & that will always kill me... When you are so connected to an animal, you will know both their physical & emotional state, and they will tell you when enough is enough. So just take it one day at a time & together, you can fight it! I wish you both nothing but the best!

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 7/4/2009 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for your kind words.

I am just so beside myself over all of this. I am trying my hardest not to lose it, SERIOUSLY but I don't want my cat to pick up on the fact that I'm sad. Believe me, they know how you are feeling and they react to it.

At this point we are still waiting to hear what type of Lymphoma he has it will make a difference in what type of treatment he receives. The Vet was supposed to call us today but for some reason didn't. My guess is because if the holiday weekend.

We are also wondering where we will go for Chemo. Years ago my mother and father took their Golden Retriever to Tufts Veterinary School for Chemo when she developed Lymphoma. So perhaps we will go that route or maybe Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston. It all depend on our finances or rather lack of them. Chemo is very expensive and my SSDI check only goes so far. sad
Posted 7/4/2009 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe talking to each place and letting them know, how hard it'll be to afford the chemo and
perhaps something could be arranged, payment options ect...just a thought...If I could send ya some
money I would...
Cry those tears as holding them in won't help you, maybe it's what you both need and I don't mean this
in a bad way, (just trying to help)
Lots and lots of soft hugz....
Finger crossed for the chemo treatments....
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((Glenn))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 7/4/2009 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Oh thank you so much for kind words Chartreux.

They really mean a lot and that goes for everyone else too!

Thank you so much for saying if you could send money you would but to be honest even if you could I couldn't accept it.

Though the offer is greatly appreciated.
Posted 7/4/2009 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Glenn,
I know this may sound insensitive but it's not meant to be. It's exactly how I approached dealing with my beloved cat of 20 years.

For years I've gone to an old fashioned country vet practice (the main vet has long since retired, and the practiced has modernized) and they are used to dealing with country animals, farm animals, people who don't have a lot of money, etc. And so I discussed with them what the treatment options would be regardless of what the tests say. The testing is often what is most expensive. I was going to drive my cat two hours for sonograms and such, but the specialist was out of town at the time, and so when I asked my vet what the treatment would be they said steroids. So I said what if we just tried the steroids and see what happens? And we did. My cat wasn't in pain, so that wasn't an issue.

It's just a thought - saving some money on testing which is only going to lead to the same treatment might help. Better to spend the money on the treatment.

Again, I know how hard this is in every way!

PaLady
Posted 7/5/2009 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Glenn,

I'd definitely talk over the decision on whether or not to do chemo with your vet, or with one of the veterinary oncologists at Tufts or Angell Memorial before you make your decision (both FABULOUS veterinary hospitals, really! Angell Memorial is one of the top private companion animal hospitals in the world & Tufts is just great. I spent several weeks there one summer & found it fascinating). In addition to the expense, there are a lot of cancers in the veterinary world that do not respond to chemotherapy in ways in which you may expect from humans & sometimes managing it through other means is more effective. But your vet(s) can point you in the right direction. I've worked as a vet tech for going on 7 years now (and will hopefully be going to veterinary school within the next couple years) at a practice very much like the one Palady described. The vets that I work for honestly don't believe in chemo for most of their patients because they have not been happy with any of the results that their patients have had. I don't mean to, or want to discourage you at all, but there are many ways to attack such problems & I just want to make sure that you have all the information that you can get from your vets! I really do wish you & your cat the best of luck during this rough time!

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 7/5/2009 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Skeye,

At this point I'm not too sure what we are going to do. We still have not heard from the Vet as to what the pathology is. So until we do I'm not sure if Chemo will be an option. I do know cats in general do not respond to chemo as well as dogs do but we are certainly willing to try it or another option if it is decided that it will help.

I wish I knew more about Feline anatomy & physiology then I do. My background is in human medical science and not veterinary

As for Angell or Tufts it is an option but seeing as my cat does not do well with long rides I am unsure of what we shall do

The good news is that since we have started Predinsone Tabby has had his appetite return. He can't get enough food or so it would seem and he is keeping it down. :-) He even seems like his old self. The Vet did say if the steroids were going to work we would notice within several days.
Posted 7/6/2009 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Quahog,
Steroids are what brought my cat back to life! As a matter of fact, they made a liquid compound at the vet's every month (each Rx only had a 30 day shelf life - in the fridge) and they gave me a choice of flavorings so I could pick tuna one month and chicken another, etc. I think I was giving it to him twice/day. But there was a point it got to his stomach (after a few months) and as soon as I noticed he vomited up something pinkish I called the vet, and we added an antacid to coat his stomach, to be given about 20 minuts before the steroid. As I said, he had been bedridden, and got back up to pretty much his old self for about 8 months. Then he went downhill fast, and the decision was obvious although excruciating.

Hope this isn't TMI!

PaLady
Posted 7/6/2009 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Glenn,

I'm glad to hear that the steroids are helping already & that you kitty is up and eating!

Skeye
Posted 7/6/2009 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Anything that we can do to extend our time with our kids (as long as it's not leaving them in pain) is something that I would do. I've had cats all my life and it made my eyes well up to hear that your baby is doing better at least.
Posted 7/7/2009 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Glenn,
hope you'll get the results back soon and that your kitty is improving more each day...
hugz...
post when you can and I will hope you can catch a low pain day too....
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Glenn)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
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